22 March 2011

19 March 2011

Today's Truth: Dealer's Choice? Whoever deals the cards for the Doldrums seems to have made sure Barcelona World Race leaders Virbac-Paprec 3 got the tough hand, MAPFRE got one to work with, and for the chasing peloton – the 3 Musketeers, a special preview of Doldrums type conditions some 700 miles early.

18 March 2011

16 March 2011

Today's Truth: Alex Thomson Racing Team have confirmed now that the IMOCA Open 60 HUGO BOSS will now make a full technical stop in the Falkland Islands, expected to be at Stanley, the islands' capital.

Members of the HUGO BOSS shore team are reported to be en route to the city. Meantime Andy Meiklejohn and Wouter Verbraak have been in a holding pattern 50 miles off the east coast of the islands riding out the conditions and are expected to wait until the support team are in situ before they make their approach. The duo has reported that they worked round the clock for more than 48 hours trying to effect the necessary repairs, but need additional materials to be able to set a decent sail plan.

15 March 2011

A look at some key figures relating to Friday's 9.0-magnitude earthquake that hit northern Japan, triggering a tsunami that caused widespread devastation and crippled a nuclear power plant:

9.0: Magnitude of the earthquake that struck off the coast of northeastern Japan Friday, according to the U.S. Geological Survey and Japanese officials, revised from the USGS’s earlier estimate of 8.9. The new reading means the quake is tied for fourth on the U.S. survey's list of strongest earthquakes since 1900.9.5: Magnitude of the world's largest recorded quake, which took place in Chile on May 22, 1960, according to the USGS.8: Estimated number of feet that Japan’s main island shifted as a result of the earthquake.2,475: The official death toll in Japan as of Tuesday morning, according to Japanese authorities. The number of dead is expected to go up as rescuers reach more hard-hit areas.3,118: Number of people officially missing as of Tuesday morning, according to Japan’s National Police Agency.9,500: Number of people unofficially estimated to be unaccounted for in the town of Minami Sanriku alone as of Sunday.17,000: Number of people who normally live in Minami Sanriku.450,000: Number of people living in shelters as of Monday, according to Japanese broadcaster NHK.15,000: Number of people who have been rescued since the earthquake and the tsunami by Monday, according to Japan’s Kyodo News Agency, citing Prime Minister Naoto Kan.200,000: Rough number of people – living near the distressed Daiichi nuclear power plant in Fukushima Prefecture – who have been ordered to evacuate because of radiation concerns at the plant, where three reactors' cooling systems have been damaged.2.5 million: Estimated number of households without electricity as of Sunday, according to Ichiro Fujisaki, Japan’s U.S. ambassador.45 million: Estimated number of people in Japan who will be affected by intentional, rolling power outages - designed to offset a power shortfall caused by damaged power plants - that are scheduled to last until April 8, according to Tokyo Electric Power.$100 billion: Minimum estimate of losses of the quake, tsunami and fires, including $20 billion in damage to residences and $40 billion in damage to infrastructure such as roads, rail and port facilities, according to catastrophe modeling firm Eqecat.$15 billion to $35 billion: Estimated amount of losses caused by the earthquake alone that may be covered by insurance, according to AIR Worldwide.14% to 17%: The estimated amount of Japanese businesses and homeowners with earthquake insurance, according to AIR Worldwide.

91: Number of countries and regions that have offered post-quake assistance to Japan as of Monday, in addition to six international organizations, according to the Japanese Foreign Affairs Ministry.

$23 million: Donations to help Japan as of Monday, according to an early tally by the American Red Cross and the Chronicle of Philanthropy, a newspaper covering nonprofit organizations.

11 March 2011

Today's Truth: My dear friend Jam is ok after the Japan earthquakes. Thank God! Please keep everyone in your prayers as this tragedy unfolds ... many lives are lost and families are in dire circumstances.

09 March 2011

04 March 2011

Today's Truth: After stopping last night at Isla Nueva to make their halyard repair MAPFRE appear to be back on course but still are not back up to full speed. They have been making just nine knots compared with Virbac-Paprec 3’s 18 knots.

02 March 2011

Today's Truth: The low pressure which was formerly Atu looks like it will send a sting in the tail of the Pacific for Virbac-Paprec 3 and MAPFRE. Current routings have Jean-Pierre Dick and Loïck Peyron there at between 0930hrs and 1030hrs UTC tomorrow just as this strong low pressure hits. Currently it seems like Virbac-Paprec 3 might just escape into the relative lee of the land while MAPFRE who might be expected at around 1400hrs to 1500hrs in the afternoon UTC, could see significantly more wind.